[Ct-nfb] Blind Babies and Our Purpose

Tue Jul 16 02:45:18 UTC 2013

Hello Justin,

What do you mean by "The National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut
exists to play other roles in society. This is not one of them."
Thanks
Edward

-----Original Message-----
From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin
Salisbury
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 10:32 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Blind Babies and Our Purpose

Are we really helping this baby?
If he gets the medical procedure, they can either succeed or fail. In one
case, negative misperceptions about blindness will be very detrimental to
his success.  
If we educate him, his parents, and the public properly about blindness, he
will be better off in either case with the procedure. 

The real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight; it is the lack of
information and misperceptions which exist.  With the proper training and
opportunity, blind people can lead normal, productive lives.

When I say that I am not making a moral claim against helping this baby gain
his sight, I mean it.

The National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut exists to play other
roles in society. This is not one of them.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 15, 2013, at 10:19 PM, "Edward" <personal.edward at gmail.com> wrote:

	I don't find anything wrong with trying to help another human being.
The child is blind, so it was placed on a list of blind individuals, in
order to see if there are resources available, donations, or otherwise.  Why
is this an issue?  What if it was your child, or yourself needing help?
Would you care about what banner is providing that help, and where it's
located?  A baby needs assistants, how in the world can anyone turn this
into a philosophical debate for the purposes of denying this child a slight
chance of help from someone on the list.  I don't care if someone came from
another country, it's common decency to try to help if we can, and if you
can't, then that's ok. If asking for help on the list isn't going to hurt
you, Why not just ignore the request and go about your business.  I'm
disgusted over this conversation.  If you wont help, then let others that
can do so without having to feel like they are going against nfb philosophy.

	Edward 

	_____________________________________________ 
	From:   Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org
<mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> ]  On Behalf Of Trevor Attenberg 
	Sent:   Monday, July 15, 2013 9:35 PM 
	To:     'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List' 
	Subject:        [Ct-nfb] Blind Babies and Our Purpose 
	When:   Monday, July 15, 2013 9:30 PM-10:00 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern
Time (US & Canada). 
	Where:  home 

	Sorry I didn't respond to the latest message. I concur with Justin
though. The last message Justin sent was the NFB's most basic statement of
philosophy, and it really says it all. While the NFB does open its doors to
those overseas-we have people from other countries visit our centers and
receive training from us-our local resource expenditures are for our local
benefit, and our philosophical message is clearly laid out for all members
to follow. As we care for this family, I can see that this discussion is
contentious; but I agree what we've done with our campaign here has strayed
too far from our core values if you will. It's not a good picture, and it's
not what we do as a federation. The messageis already off the mark, and
we're misappropriating our list use. I think if we're going to continue to
pursue the goal of getting the child avisa for the purpose of saving or
restoring sight, we should not be doing it under the banner of National
Federation of the Blind.

	Best, 
	TrevorA          

	_____________________________________________ 
	From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org
<mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> ] On Behalf Of Cookiechumper at aol.com 
	Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 9:09 PM 
	To: ct-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>  
	Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Blind Babies and Our Purpose 

	Justin, 

	Oh man you are so on it it's insane. I think this story did open the
door on that which was good that there is different levels of
blindness,problesm etc. I get people asking my sister is she mental or have
mental issues because she can see somethings,has a cane,eyes move
funny,moves too adn she always responds she's blind and then they'll be oh
om. So there needs to be so much more information and education this si why
my friend at News12 will do teh stories adn if you have any do pass them on
so he can do them.

	Thank you somuch for beign on it Justin Elizabeth 

	In a message dated 7/15/2013 8:59:16 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu writes: 
	The real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight. It is the
lack of information and misunderstanding which exist.

	Sent from my iPhone 

	On Jul 15, 2013, at 8:57 PM, "Sandee Kush" <slkush93 at att.net> wrote:

	Justin, who are you speaking for with the "we".  Did you speak with
Dr. Mauer personally about this issue? 
	If asking for  humane and  supportive treatment for a baby, a baby
from another country, has the power to set us back so far that we need to
start over again, the NFB must not be very strong.

	Also,  well I really won't take the time to debate many of your
generalized statements.  I will say, that I  do not want it  to represent
my voice nor do other members I have spoken to.

	Thank you Joyce for sharing those important facts and an
international perspective.  

	From: Ct-nfb[mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Blindhands at aol.com 
	Sent:Monday, July 15, 2013 7:57 PM 
	To: ct-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>  
	Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Blind Babies and Our Purpose 

	Justin , 

	I agree  with the Federation regarding what you said in your email,
but this child lives in India and is a native of India.

	I don't know if you have had the opportunity to ever had gone to
India and experienced first hand the blind people in India, but I have.

	There is 14.5 million blind people in India andthe opportunity for
the blind in India is far from what yu can imagine.  They are not taught to
travel independently nor do they have the opportunity to even have a cane.
There isn't much opportunity for training of jobs.  

	While I was there I had the chance of visiting some of the much
better schools for the blind.  Some examples I can give is a school in
Mumbai  that had over 500 students living at the school and I visited their
computer lab.  They had 8 computers in there to train these 500 students on.

	While I was there I had to get special peermission which was made
ahead of time to my arrival to travel with my guide dog.  I could not go in
public tourist areas with her, but I was invited to the Capital in New Deli
to have an appointment with the Department of rehabilitation for the
government in India.

	Mind you I was only allowed to visit the blind schools that the
India government allowed me to visit along with members of the U.S. Embassy.

	I totally understand the desperation of this Mother ofthis little
boy seeking medical attention in the USA to save her child's sight.

	I never had the chance to visit blind people that live in the
villages that are cared for by their family for all of their life.

	Joyce Kane 
	www.KraftersKorner.org <file://www.KraftersKorner.org>
<http://www.krafterskorner.org/ <http://www.krafterskorner.org/> > 
	Blindhands at AOL.com 

	In a message dated 7/15/2013 1:24:46 P.M. Eastern DaylightTime,
PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu writes: 
	Justin 
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